Kevin Randleman vs. Mike Whitehead set for June 6 Strikeforce main card

Former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman (17-12) will return from a 13-month layoff to meet fellow wrestler Mike Whitehead (23-7) at Strikeforce’s June 6 event in St. Louis.

The organization today announced the light-heavyweight fight will be part of the night’s Showtime-televised main card.

The event takes place at the Scottrade Center and features a main event between former EliteXC middleweight champ Robbie Lawler and former welterweight title-holder Jake Shields at a catch-weight of 182 pounds.

Randleman, who’s long battled illness, injury and the fallout from a failed drug test, most recently competed at World Victory Road’s Sengoku Third Battle event, where he picked up a unaninous-decision win over Ryo Kawamura. It’s his only appearance over the past three years.

Prior to the victory, Randleman, a two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion at the Ohio State University, went 2-7 fighting primarily for PRIDE Fighting Championships from 2003 to 2006.

Whitehead, meanwhile, returns for the first time since an October M-1 win over Leo Pla. It was his 14th win in the past 15 fights for Whitehead, a cast member on “The Ultimate Fighter 2″ who suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Keith Jardine in his only UFC appearance. Whitehead posted 13 consecutive wins (seven via submission) after that defeat.

Randleman and Whitehead both make their Strikeforce debuts at the event.

From Our Partners

The Latest

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.